Reading fire drill feels like the real thing.

As Reading firefighter Jason Licwinko placed the hose on my shoulder there was only one thing going through my mind: What have I gotten myself into?

I wouldn't be surprised if Licwinko and partner Michael Biancone, who guided me to the smoke-filled home in the 1800 block of Olive Street with the roughly 50-pound hose, were thinking the same thing.

But I don't think I truly began to sweat until I got to the doorstep and Lt. Brian Thorpe handed me a thermal camera.

"Let's go," he said, letting me take the lead. "Be careful and stay to the right."

As part of fire prevention week, the B Platoon from the Reading Fire Department's Ninth and Marion station helped stage a home exit drill Tuesday night at Scott Robertson and Theresa Diaz's home.

The drill, which included fake smoke and no actual fire, was designed to help residents understand the importance of having a plan and the right tools in the case of a fire.

Fire Marshal Todd M. Iaeger invited a reporter and photographer to join the fire department team to see firsthand what firefighters go through.

With only enough men for 18 firefighters a shift, each vehicle gets two men. When there are multiple calls, many times only a platoon, which consists of four men, can respond immediately.

Each platoon works a four-day cycle, two 10-hour day shifts and two 14-hour night shifts, before getting a break.

Each firefighter I spoke to stressed the importance of residents doing whatever they can to prepare for a fire since the department is spread thin.

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"If you don't think (city) budget issues are tangible, you just haven't had the fire at your house yet," Iaeger said.

After Licwinko and Biancone gave me a quick rundown of how to put on my turnout gear, I only had a few minutes before show time.

The alarm sounded, I jumped in the boots, pulled up my suspenders and we jumped in Engine 9 with Biancone at the wheel.

That's when the adrenaline - and nerves - started pumping.

When we got to the scene, the guys helped me fix my oxygen tank, mask and helmet and loaded me with the hose.

The regular gear weighs about 35 pounds and the oxygen tank adds another 35. With the hose on my shoulder, the firefighters told me I was carrying close to my own body weight.

The gear felt much heavier after I walked into the house and realized I had no clue what I was doing.

I slowly made my way to the stairs with Thorpe's directions and made my way up, hoping I didn't fall.

Once I got to the top, I didn't know which way to turn because all I could see was smoke.

Thankfully Thorpe gave me constant directions, reminding me to sweep the room with the thermal camera.

I eventually found 14-year-old Lin Robertson lying on a bed. Thorpe grabbed her upper body while I grabbed her legs and we carried her out of the room.

"I thought it was a cool experience when I was being carried out because it felt so real," Lin said afterward.

After handing Lin off to two other firefighters at the stairs, I quickly spotted another person in a bedroom down the hallway, despite the sweat dripping down my face.

Crawling to the silhouette on the camera seemed to take forever.

Thorpe and I found Lin's younger siblings, Sam, 9, and Meg, 11, in the room and they crawled to safety.

After all the occupants were out of the house, we opened windows for ventilation and then reconvened outside with the rest of the platoon, Scott Lerch and Mike Welsh, who man Ladder 3, and other firefighters called to the drill.

That's when I finally started to breathe regularly.

But Biancone reassured me later that no matter how long you're in the business, you always get that feeling in your stomach.

"We all have a little bit of fear, but you learn how to deal with that fear," he said.